Howard nabs MVP honors in 52nd annual Hula Bowl

Ogbogu had four sacks to lead a South defense that held on during the final North drive to preserve a 20-19 victory in the 52nd annual Hula Bowl on Sunday.

"I just wanted to have a good game and impress the scouts," Ogbogu said. "I did a little better than I thought."

Ogbogu had four sacks and was named most valuable player for the South. Howard had 14 rushes for 116 yards and was MVP for the North.

"I played like I was playing for Michigan," Howard said. "I didn't care if it was a relaxed game. I came here to win."

AP PHOTO Michigan tailback Chris Howard racked up 116 yards on 14 carries to earn MVP honors for the North team in the Hula Bowl. The South edged the North, 20-19.

Robert Nycz of Arizona State booted a 47-yard field goal with two minutes to play to rally the South to victory.

The North scored all its points in the second half, rallying from a 10-0 halftime deficit to take a 19-17 lead with 6:43 to play on a five-yard pass from Penn State receiver Joe Jurevicius to Michigan quarterback Brian Griese.

Jurevicius took the ball on a reverse from Michigan running back Howard and found Griese in the right front corner of the end zone.

Hofstra kicker Dave Ettinger missed the extra point.

"I knew that once I got in the end zone, I had to catch the ball," Griese said. "I knew I as going to get hit, but I knew I had to catch it."

Griese drove the North into South territory in the final minutes, but two sacks and an incomplete pass ended the comeback.

The game-winning kick by Nycz capped a nine-play, 55-yard drive that was led by North Carolina State running back Tremayne Stephens. Stephens ran three times on the drive for 27 yards and caught a nine-yard pass from North Carolina quarterback Chris Keldorf.

The North took the opening kickoff of the second half and drove 69 yards on six plays, with Griese hitting Jurevicius on a 35-yard scoring strike with 13:27 left in the quarter.

The North intercepted Nebraska quarterback Scott Frost on the next series, with Wisconsin cornerback LaMar Campbell returning the pick 25 yards to the South 14. Ettinger's 20-yard field goal with 10:43 in the quarter tied the game 10-10.

Frost led the South to its final touchdown on the next series, rushing four times for 42 yards, and scoring on a seven-yard quarterback draw with 6:42 in the quarter. Ettinger's 26-yarder with five seconds in the quarter made it 17-13.

The South did all the first-half scoring, using a 38-yard scoring pass from UCLA receiver Jim McElroy to Duke receiver Corey Thomas and a 33-yard field goal by Nycz.

01-20-98